Varaha Purana 186.2: Adhyaya 186, Shloka 2

Ritual Procedure for Installing Silver and Gold Images, and the Special Status of Śālagrāma

Devanagari script

चन्द्रपाण्डुरसङ्काशां सुष्लक्ष्णां निर्व्रणां शुभाम् ।। श्रियायुक्तां मनोज्ञां च दीप्यमानां दिशो दश ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 186.2

Transliteration

candra-pāṇḍura-saṅkāśāṁ suślakṣṇāṁ nirvraṇāṁ śubhām || śriyā-yuktāṁ manojñāṁ ca dīpyamānāṁ diśo daśa ||

Translation

ചന്ദ്രന്റെ പാണ്ഡുരപ്രഭയെപ്പോലെ, അത്യന്തം മൃദുവും മിനുസമുള്ളതും, മുറിവില്ലാത്തതും, ശുഭവും; ശ്രീയുക്തവും മനോഹരവും, പത്ത് ദിക്കുകളിലും ദീപ്തമായും।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• candra-pāṇḍura-saṅkāśām: resembling the pale whiteness of the moon
• candra-pāṇḍura-saṅkāśām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇḍura (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषार्थः (resembling moon-like whiteness); विशेषणम्

• suślakṣṇām: very smooth / fine-textured
• suślakṣṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ślakṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• nirvraṇām: without wounds / unscarred
• nirvraṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग) + vraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• śubhām: auspicious / beautiful
• śubhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• śriyā: with splendor / with prosperity
• śriyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• yuktām: endowed (with)
• yuktām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (कृदन्त; युज् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषणम् (pratimām-विशेषण)

• manojñām: pleasing / delightful
• manojñām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; मनोज्ञ = मनसः ज्ञ (pleasing to the mind); विशेषणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• dīpyamānām: shining
• dīpyamānām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dīp (दीप् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; शानच्-वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, Ātmanepada sense) — 'shining'

• diśaḥ: directions
• diśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (संख्या) विशेषणम्; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचनानुगुणम् (agreeing with diśaḥ)

Speaker

Varāha (continued instruction)

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Iconography (Pratimā aesthetics)
• Sanskrit Poetics (descriptive epithets)

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It captures aesthetic norms for sacred images—smoothness, blemishlessness, and radiance—useful for comparing textual ideals with surviving art-historical specimens.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named; “ten directions” is a cosmological-aesthetic motif.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To cultivate care and excellence in creating cultural-religious artifacts, emphasizing non-damage (nirvraṇa) and auspicious presentation (śubha).